Washington Sports Betting: Legal WA Online Sportsbook Sites 2024

WA sports betting at a glance

• Available options: BETEQC app, Caesars Sportsbook app, Snoqualmie Casino Sportsbook App
• Number of legal retail sportsbooks: 17
• Legal betting age: 21
• Exclusive welcome offers: N/A

Washington sports betting quick facts

Washington betting promos and bonuses

Due to the restrictive nature of online WA sports betting, there are no standard bonuses and promos on the few online betting apps available in the state. The software was only designed for betting within the physical retail sportsbook, so promotions are pretty rare — if they exist at all.

Those circumstances might change since BetMGM and Caesars already operate sports betting apps in Washington. DraftKings and some other major players also have retail sportsbooks and plan to expand to the limited online sphere. Thus, we could actually see some Washington sportsbook promos if the market grows.

It’s also worth mentioning that most retail casinos that accept bets from online apps also have individual promotions you can look for while there. 

Top Washington betting sites

According to our latest tally, only three sportsbooks in Washington come with online betting sites or mobile apps.

Other casinos typically have a retail sportsbook. Some let you build your bet online with your smartphone, but you must still visit a kiosk to place your wager. This is a major difference from the best sports betting sites found in many other states with legal sports wagering. 

Here’s a list of all Washington betting sites you can use, provided you are on the premises of their tribal casinos.

Why the BetMGM EQC app is the best sportsbook in Washington 🦁

BetMGM is the Washington sports betting partner of two tribal casinos in the state — the Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel in Tacoma and the Emerald Queen Casino in Fife. In addition to the retail experience, bettors can place wagers on the BetMGM Emerald Queen Casino app, made specifically for these casinos. 

MGM Resorts International is one of the leading sports betting operators in the world. As a result, it offers a top-notch experience across the board, which also applies to online bettors at the Emerald Queen casino locations in Washington. The software is similar to the BetMGM app available in other states, making it extremely easy to use. 

It’s available for Android and iOS devices, and you can download it from their respective App Stores or through the Emerald Queen Casino site. However, you’ll need to be physically present at the casino and at least 21 years old to register and use it. You must also provide several documents like your EQC Players Club card and picture identification. 

The betting market and sports event coverage is excellent, as it usually is at BetMGM. You can bet on pro and college football, basketball, soccer, baseball, and more. You'll find markets like moneylines, spreads, props, and parlays. You can even access its in-play live betting feature with constantly updated odds. 

BetMGM also has a loyalty program that allows users to earn points at its retail locations and through its online apps. BetMGM recently consolidated its Rewards Points program into a single digital account, allowing Washington residents to carry over points across jurisdictions.

The app is up and running 24/7 as long as you’re on the premises of one of the two casinos. Check out our full BetMGM review for more information about the main betting app, which is almost identical to the one you'll find in Washington. Unfortunately, the BetMGM promo code that works in other states has no use in Washington. 

Other Washington online sportsbooks and sports betting apps

There are plenty of places you can legally bet on sports in Washington, namely, in any of the 17 tribal casinos with dedicated retail sportsbooks. However, few currently offer (or intend to offer) an online betting experience besides the two Emerald Queen casinos.

Due to Washington state law, all tribal casinos focus primarily on their retail sportsbooks. As a result, few have a website or betting app you can use on the premises. Even those that do offer a handheld bet-building experience require you to take your smartphone to a kiosk to submit your wager. Unfortunately, this experience is much different than using many of the best sports betting apps available other states where the laws are different. 

Only two sportsbooks currently feature full-fledged betting apps. However, DraftKings may soon join their ranks. They already have two retail sportsbooks in the state and one of the best sportsbooks in the entire country. If (or when) they launch their app in Washington, we'll be the first to let you know.

In the meantime, let's quickly review the mobile betting apps already there.

Caesars Sportsbook app 🏛

Caesars has partnered with three tribal casinos in Washington state, offering full retail sportsbooks in all of them — Chewelah Casino, Spokane Tribe Casino, and Muckleshoot Casino. 

However, only the first two come with sports betting apps you can use on the premises. The apps are similar to what Caesars provides in other states so you can expect a user-friendly design, lots of betting options, and excellent coverage. 

Head over to our in-depth Caesars review for more information. Like BetMGM, there's no valid Caesars Sportsbook promo code to use in Washington state.

Snoqualmie Casino Sportsbook

The Snoqualmie Casino Sportsbook app is the proprietary betting software of the same-named tribal casino, only a 30-minute drive from downtown Seattle.

Interestingly, there is a partnership between the casino and odds provider IGT. The app was the first to enter the state, allowing betting on numerous sports leagues and tournaments. You can download it from the Snoqualmie Casino website and find instructions on registering and the documents you need to present on location.

Like other mobile betting apps in Washington, you can only use it when physically located inside the Snoqualmie Casino.

How to start betting in Washington

Starting a sports betting experience in Washington differs from most legal states. Instead of betting from your living room couch, you must visit a retail sportsbook at one of the state's tribal casinos.

Here's a step-by-step guide to how the process works:

1. Pick a sportsbook and visit it

Examine our list or find the closest tribal casino with a retail and online sportsbook. Check the registration requirements and bring the necessary documents. Visit the location, open the official site, and download the app. If the sportsbook has a mobile website instead of an app, you can also use that.

2. Register an account

To register an account, you need to provide the necessary documents on-site. Aside from a player's or membership card (or some other casino-specific ID), you’ll likely also need a valid photo ID and a W-9 tax form.

3. Deposit funds

Depositing is also done in person. You can fund your account as soon as it's ready at the designated kiosk. The minimum deposit is typically higher than that on regular sports betting sites, so keep that in mind. For example, if you plan on using the BetMGM EQC app, the minimum deposit is $100. 

4. Place your bet

Make yourself at home and browse the available betting markets on the app. Once you've selected a game or event, click the associated odds to add the bet to the slip. Then, input your stake and complete the wager. It will now be in the system, so expect a payout after the game if you win. 

5. Collect a bonus

Washington online sportsbooks don't offer welcome bonuses like they often do in other states. However, individual casinos and retail sportsbooks may have individual promotions throughout the year. See if there are any perks available when you create your account. 

6. Withdraw your winnings

If you’ve accumulated a few wins and have a nice account balance, you can begin the withdrawal process in the app. Each one does it slightly differently, but the gist is that you’ll have to request it in the app and then visit the casino cage to get your cash. 

How we rate and review Washington sportsbooks

Even though online Washington sportsbook options are limited in what they offer and how they operate, we still have a method for reviewing them objectively. Considering our analysis will have more impact as the market expands, let’s check the criteria we’ve used. 

Sports coverage

Broad coverage of the world of sports, especially in terms of major leagues, is crucial for a betting app. While you want to see the Big Four North American leagues, there should also be many other popular and niche sports. In short, we want to see golf, tennis, F1, and MMA markets alongside NFL, NBA, and major soccer markets. 

Market coverage and depth of prop bets

Besides comprehensive sports coverage, having an extensive range of betting markets would also be good. Each game should have several dozen markets, including team and player props, that make the entire experience even more interesting. 

User experience and ease of use

We don’t want you to waste your time on a poor-quality app, so we’ve checked the design quality, navigation, and more. We only recommend betting apps that perform to the highest standard. 

Live betting features

Live betting is next to impossible at a retail bookmaker, so Washington sportsbooks’ online counterparts must have the in-play option. Most apps do, but only a few truly excel at this feature due to the restrictive nature of the law. Still, we’ve analyzed how quickly they alter the odds, whether we encountered any software bugs, and the overall live betting options available.  

Promos and bonuses

Due to Washington's unique sports betting laws, there aren't really any welcome bonuses or sign-up offers for customers to take advantage of. You may find some deals inside of retail sportsbooks, but these typically don't compare to the best sportsbook promos found directly on sports betting platforms available in other states with legal betting. 

Washington retail sportsbooks

Extended online sports betting might not be on the long-term agenda for Washington, but players still have a great selection of retail sportsbooks at their disposal. Some of the biggest names in the sports betting industry are active in the Evergreen State.

Here are the places where you can bet in person in Washington:

Washington sports leagues & teams to bet on

Washington was the home of the Seattle SuperSonics, the 1979 NBA champions. Unfortunately, that franchise departed for Oklahoma City after the 2007–08 season and became the Thunder.

Even though Washingtonians no longer have an NBA team, they have one for every other Big Four league — the Seattle Seahawks (NFL), the Seattle Kraken (NHL), and the Seattle Mariners (MLB). The Seahawks won the Super Bowl in 2013.

The state has many more pro and semi-pro teams, most notably the Seattle Storm, a WNBA team that won the championship four times, the last being in 2020. Let’s not forget the numerous college teams like the Seattle Redhawks, Washington Huskies, Gonzaga Bulldogs, and Washington State Cougars.

Seattle Seahawks 🏈

Lumen Field will see plenty of attention from sports betting operators if Washington ever opens up to multiple mobile sportsbooks. The home of the Seahawks seats more than 70,000 fans and is a popular year-round venue – giving sportsbooks plenty of reason to aim for a partnership agreement with the NFL franchise. 

Seattle Mariners ⚾

Will the Mariners follow the example set by the NL’s Washington Nationals? The Nats are the first Major League Baseball team whose stadium is connected to a retail sports betting venue (BetMGM Sportsbook). Seattle’s home park, T-Mobile Park, recently underwent a brand change and would likely welcome sports betting partners.

Seattle Kraken 🏒

Of all the major professional sports teams to embrace sports betting partnerships when the time is right, the Kraken are at the top of the list. They play in the state-of-the-art Climate Pledge Arena, which features cashier-less technology and the ability for patrons to use an app to buy swag and have it dropped off at an in-arena pickup location.

Seattle Sounders ⚽

Washington has another hugely successful franchise, the Seattle Sounders of Major League Soccer. The soccer club is consistently among the best in the league. They have two MLS Cup championships, in 2016 and 2019, and finished second in 2017 and 2020: only the LA Galaxy and D.C. United have more titles.

Sports betting by category

Check out our resources on the best sportsbook for specific sports and leagues:

Legal sports betting and regulations in Washington

Sports betting became legal in Washington on March 25, 2020, when Gov. Jay Inslee signed HB 2638 into law. The regulation allowed every federally recognized Native American tribe in Washington to offer sports betting on their land. To operate lawfully, the tribe must have a casino location and amend its gambling compact. 

The law currently permits retail and online sports betting but prohibits betting outside of tribal lands. Therefore, online betting is only permitted within retail sportsbooks in casinos on tribal land. 

Online sports betting sites and mobile apps are allowed, but this restriction has led the market to focus primarily on retail locations. Only a few casinos and sportsbooks offer accompanying betting apps. 

College sports betting 🎓

Bettors can wager on almost any sport and place any form of bet. The only exceptions are in-state college teams and minor league games. 

It’s worth noting that the law is currently being contested in court. Maverick Gaming, a Kirkland-based casino company, filed a lawsuit in January 2022 to challenge the compact between tribal casinos and the state of Washington. They claim that the tribes have an unlawful monopoly over sports betting and a few other gambling forms.

Maverick lost their initial legal battle when a court threw out the lawsuit. The eventual result of this challenge (or similar ones in the future) could change the sports betting market completely.

Who can bet on sports in Washington?

Even though sports betting is legal in Washington, there are still a few restrictions you need to know about. 

Legal age

You must be at least 21 years old and located on tribal lands to legally bet on sports in Washington. 

Mobile betting

Mobile betting is permitted in Washington, but it has to be done on tribal lands. Some retail sportsbooks in the state have accompanying betting apps you can use while visiting their brick-and-mortar sportsbook. The term "mobile betting" is a bit of an oxymoron in Washington since you still have to travel to a casino to bet via your smartphone. 

Remote registration

Remote sign-up is not allowed in Washington. You have to visit a tribal casino that offers sports betting to register for both offline and online sports betting services. Registration typically involves getting a player's card or other free membership from the casino.

Within state borders

In most states, the online gambling laws state you have to be physically located within state borders to place a bet. Washington takes that provision one step further, insisting you are inside a tribal casino (on tribal land) to make any kind of sports wager, mobile or otherwise. 

Retail sportsbooks

Retail sportsbooks are legal in Washington as long as they are part of a tribal casino. There are currently 17 casinos in the state with dedicated sportsbooks. 

Taxable winnings

Washington doesn’t have a state gambling tax. However, you still have to pay federal taxes on your winnings. You can expect a 25% withholding tax on any major wins. 

What you can and can't bet on in Washington

In addition to remote sports betting being prohibited in Washington, several other forms of betting are off-limits, too. 

Politics ❌

Betting on political events like the midterms or presidential elections is always illegal in the United States, and Washington is no exception. 

Entertainment awards ❌

You cannot bet on celebrity events and entertainment award ceremonies like the Oscars, Emmys, or Grammys. This law applies to all of the U.S.

Daily Fantasy Sports ❌

According to Washington law, daily fantasy sports (DFS) is a game of chance and, therefore, illegal. Consequently, there are no active DFS providers in the state. 

Oddly enough, most other states have long considered all forms of fantasy sports a game of skill, allowing DFS to be legal for years before the Supreme Court abolished PASPA in 2018. It's how DraftKings and FanDuel, two of the biggest names in online sports gambling, started.

What about esports and WA college sports? ✅

Esports betting is permitted, but just like its traditional counterpart, only within retail sportsbooks on their apps. College sports betting is also allowed, but you can’t bet on in-state college teams and events, only those outside Washington. 

Washington legal sports betting history

As has been the case with several notable states to legalize sports betting in the U.S., supporters of Washington’s tribal casinos as the gatekeepers for sports wagering are at odds with those who would like to see the practice expanded throughout the state.

Unfortunately for the latter group, the law is not on its side. Despite challenges to the existing arrangement between the state and the 15 tribes that have signed gaming compacts, it doesn’t appear that anything is going to change in its favor.

Here’s a look at Washington’s sports betting history:

2020: Inslee Signs Bill Into Law

Governor Jay Inslee formally signed legal in-person and mobile sports betting into law in March, making Washington the first state in the U.S. in 2020 to join the legalized sports wagering club.

While the bill was seen as a significant victory for the state’s tribal casinos (the only venues that were legally allowed to offer sports betting), the process was a long one. Little progress was made on new sports betting compacts the rest of the year, as the pandemic forced the government to focus on more pressing matters.

2021: Tribes Clash With Gaming CEO

The flip of the calendar finally produced some progress in Washington’s quest to have legal sports wagering up and running — but it didn’t come without a challenge.

Maverick Gaming CEO Eric Persson implored the state to consider expanding its sports betting bill to include card rooms and racetracks licensed within Washington to extend mobile sports wagering across the state. Bill SB5212 proposed a 10 percent tax on gaming revenue, along with an additional $100,000 license fee.

The tribes weren’t having it. Not only did Washington Indian Gaming Association Executive Director Rebecca George challenge Maverick’s contention that card rooms could generate $50 million annually in tax revenue from sports betting, she went on to say that opening up mobile sports betting off tribal lands would limit how much money the tribes could provide to its poorer communities.

The law ultimately remained unchanged, and Inslee went on to sign 15 tribal sports betting compacts in July 2021. Just over two months later, Snoqualmie Tribe made history as the first in Washington to take retail sports bets. Just before year’s end, Snoqualmie also became the first tribe to offer mobile betting.

2022: Maverick Files Lawsuit Against State

On the heels of several additional Washington tribes introducing retail sports betting, Maverick filed a lawsuit claiming that the state had acted unlawfully in giving the tribes exclusive sports wagering access. 

That lawsuit dragged past 2022 and into 2023. It was eventually thrown out, but new legal challenges to the tribe's monopoly are likely to continue. Meanwhile, the tribal casinos continued to expand their sports betting operations, with DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars all aligning with different Washington tribes early in 2022.

Responsible sports betting in Washington

The state of Washington is very committed to responsible gambling, which is why it has made numerous resources and helplines available 24/7. The governing body is the Washington State Gambling Commission, and it offers confidential help through a free phone line or online chat.  

Washington has a state-wide self-exclusion program for card rooms, non-tribal casinos, and tribal casinos that have opted to participate. 

You can also get assistance from the National Council on Problem Gambling.

National U.S. gambling helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER

Additional Washington betting resources

• Approved Washington Sports Wagers: Complete list of approved sports wagers in Washington
• Washington sports wagering bill: Explore HB 2638, which authorizes sports wagering subject to tribal-state gaming terms
• Washington self-exclusion program: Allows individuals to be excluded from all gambling avenues
• Washington Problem Gambling: Support for problem gamblers

Sportsbooks to avoid in Washington

You’re likely to find a wide range of online sportsbooks on the web that claim to offer their services to Washingtonians. However, it’s crucial to understand that except for those found on tribal lands, none of them are legal.

These sportsbooks are offshore, so they lack proper licenses and are thus operating illegally in the state. We don’t know whether they are truly safe. If you have any problems while using one, you’re at the mercy of the offshore site without a regulatory body to defend your interests.

Here’s a quick look at some of the more notorious offshore sportsbooks we’ve blacklisted:

Growth of sports betting 📈

When the U.S. Supreme Court repealed PASPA in 2018, the growth of legal sports betting in the United States skyrocketed. Close to three dozen states have since legalized some form of sports betting, with the most common legislation including the licensing of online sportsbooks and mobile betting apps. Check our legal sports betting tracker to find out more about any state you're interested in. 

Over the past few years, large states like Ohio and Massachusetts have enjoyed massively successful online betting launches. Sports fans get an extra way to engage with their favorite teams, and the states earn plenty of much-needed revenue from licensing fees and taxes.

More recently, legal North Carolina sports betting arrived on March 11, 2024, bringing eight of the best sportsbooks in the country to the Tar Heel state. And with events like the Copa America and Euro 2024 soccer tournaments happening all Summer long, the excitement and opportunities for sports betting enthusiasts continue to grow.